From bags to riches: 22-year-old Quebec grocery store worker wins $70-million Lotto Max jackpot

MONTREAL -- A 22-year-old worker at an IGA grocery store in a suburb of Quebec City won Tuesday's record-tying $70-million Lotto Max jackpot.

While Loto-Quebec would not confirm the identity of the the winner, people familiar with the winner told CTV Montreal and Rouge FM radio in Quebec City that the grocery bagger checked the winning ticket Wednesday morning at the IGA Extra in the Saint-Romuald district of Levis, on the south shore of Quebec City, where he works.

The store from which he bought the ticket will receive a $700,000 commission - equivalent to one-per-cent of the prize - for having sold the winning ticket.

The 22-year-old found out he won while he was at work, according to two people who work with him. He was crying and shaking, one of his co-workers said, adding that his father had to come pick him up because he wasn't in a state to drive home.

Loto-Quebec head of public relations Patrice Lavoie announced on Wednesday that the company planned to hold a press conference Friday to introduce the winner. The jackpot will be shared between eight members of the 22-year-old's family.

Tuesday's $70-million prize is the biggest ever won in the province of Quebec, and comes during 50th-anniversary celebrations by Loto-Quebec, the province's lottery corporation.

The draw also resulted in eight $1-million prizes being won in Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and Atlantic Canada.

This marks the second time in less than two months that a $70 million jackpot has been at stake. The last draw was won on Jan. 7 in Ontario.

Since that draw, the total value of sales in Canada had exceeded $88 million, according to Loto-Québec.

The draw on Tuesday generated total sales of nearly $54.1 million.

The jackpot for next Friday's Lotto Max lottery draw will be $19 million. 

The odds of winning the Lotto Max grand prize are one in 33 million.